Watford defender Joel Ekstrand will leave the Premier League club when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The 27-year-old made 100 appearances for the Hornets during four years at Vicarage Road.

But Ekstrand has not featured since March 2015 after a cruciate knee ligament injury resulted in a lengthy layoff.

The defender has been training with the squad since December and featured for the Under-21 side but did not play in the Premier League for the club.

Watford have extended the contract of 19-year-old striker Alex Jakubiak for another year.

Jakubiak scored 18 goals in the Under-21 Professional Development League during the last campaign and was rewarded with the development player of the season award. 

Under-21 players George Byers, Josh Doherty, Matt Hall, Uche Ikpeazu, Jorell Johnson, Mahlondo Martin, Bernard Mensah, Luke Simpson and Alfie Young have all been released by the Hornets. 

Second-year Academy scholars Andrew Eleftheriou, Nathan Gartside, Brandon Mason, Rhyle Ovenden, Charlie Rowan and Connor Stevens have been offered professional contracts.

The players impressed for David Horseman's Under-18 team after winning the title last season.

Jacob Cook and Max Makaka will leave the club at their end of their scholarships.